Emanuel Cook (born January 20, 1988) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player who was a

safety Safety is the state of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings The word 'safety' entered the English language in the 1 ...

in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

South Carolina Gamecocks The South Carolina Gamecocks represent the University of South Carolina in the NCAA Division I. The University of South Carolina uses "Gamecocks" as its official nickname and mascot. While the men's teams were traditionally known as the Fight ...

and was signed by the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

in 2009. Cook was also a member of the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...

, Hartford Colonials, and

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...

Early life

Cook graduated from Palm Beach Gardens Community High School where he rushed for 2,027 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior and was recognized as the

South Florida Sun-Sentinel The ''Sun Sentinel'' (also known as the ''South Florida Sun Sentinel'', known until 2008 as the ''Sun-Sentinel'', and stylized on its masthead as ''SunSentinel'') is the main daily newspaper of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Broward County, an ...

Player of the Year for large schools. He led his team to the Class 6A state title as a senior, marking the first state championship in school history. Cook ran for 373 yards and five touchdowns in a game against Atlantic, busted a 99-yard run vs. Lake Worth in the playoffs, and rushed for 243 yards and four scores in the state title game.

College career

In 2008 Cook was the team's leading tackler but was declared academically ineligible for the

Outback Bowl The ReliaQuest Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Tampa, Florida. The event was known as the Hall of Fame Bowl from 1986 to 1995 and the Outback Bowl from 1996 to 2022. It was held at Tampa Stadium from 1986 until 1999, when it ...

. His 2008 totals were 97 tackles (62 solo) and one interception. In 2007, he earned second-team All-SEC honors by the SEC coaches, the

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, and Rivals.com. He led the team with 92 tackles, including 77 solos, including eight for losses. He also had 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, 5 passes broken up and forced 2 fumbles. In 2006, he earned freshman All-SEC honors by both the league's coaches and the ''

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'' and tied for third on the team in tackles with 47, including 40 solo stops and five tackles for loss, despite playing only 10 games.

Professional career

Pre-draft

New York Jets

Cook was signed by the

as an

and then released prior to the

2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th season in the history of the National Football League (NFL). The 50th anniversary of the original eight charter members of the American Football League was celebrated during this season. The preseason started ...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cook was signed to the

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

on November 11, 2009. On January 5, 2010, he was signed to a reserve/future contract. He was waived on June 18.

New York Jets (second stint)

Cook was re-signed by the New York Jets on July 29, 2010. Cook was then waived by the team on September 3, 2010.

Hartford Colonials

Cook was signed by the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League on September 16, 2010.

New York Jets (third stint)

Cook was re-signed by the Jets on December 8, 2010 to a three-year contract following injuries to safeties

Jim Leonhard James Andrew Leonhard (born October 27, 1982) is an American professional American football, football coach and former player who is the defensive pass game coordinator and assistant head coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football Le ...

and James Ihedigbo. Cook was waived on November 28, 2011.

Baltimore Ravens

Cook was claimed off waivers by the

on November 29, 2011.

Orlando Predators

On April 28, 2015, Cook was assigned to the

Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played it ...

of the

Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...

. On January 5, 2016, Cook was placed on recallable reassignment. On March 30, 2016, Cook was assigned to the Predators once again.

Tampa Bay Storm

On October 14, 2016, Cook was assigned to the

Tampa Bay Storm The Tampa Bay Storm were a professional arena football team based in Tampa, Florida, US. It played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Originally the team was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and operated as the Pittsburgh Gladiators. The ...

in the dispersal draft.

References

External links

Baltimore Ravens bio

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Emanuel 1988 births Living people Sportspeople from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Players of American football from Palm Beach County, Florida American football safeties South Carolina Gamecocks football players New York Jets players Tampa Bay Buccaneers players Hartford Colonials players Baltimore Ravens players Orlando Predators players Tampa Bay Storm players 21st-century African-American sportsmen 21st-century American sportsmen 20th-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century American sportsmen